Window frame and sash



My 1 1942 M. B. SWL'LER 2 28 23 WINDOW FRAME AND SASH Filed Feb. 26,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l r INVENTQR Patented July 7, 1942 WINDOW FRAME ANDSASH Morgan B. Schiller, Sewickley, Pa., assignor to American TubularElevator Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 26,1940, Serial No. 320,884

1 Claim.

My invention relates to window structures in general, and in particularto window structures whose main frames and sash frames are formed ofmetal.

The invention is particularly directed to the construction of stormwindows, windows arranged externally of the windows that are permanentlyincluded in the walls of homes and other buildings, but it is to beadded that I do not limit my invention to storm windows. Morespecifically, the window structure, in which the invention is centered,includes two vertically sliding sashes, sashes that in known way areadapted to slide on vertical rails in the window frame. My object is toprovide for the ready removal of the slidable sashes from the windowframe, so that in warm weather panels of fly screen may be substitutedfor the glass sashes used in winter, and the invention consists inparticulary effective structure to such end.

A window structure embodying the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, Fig. I is a view in front elevation of such structure. Fig. IIis a view partly in side elevation and part ly in vertical section, withthe upper sash shown in partly lowered position in the frame. Fig. IIIis a fragmentary view, showing the window frame to larger scale and incross section, on the plane III-III of Fig. I, and showing the twowindow sashes in edge elevation. Fig. IV is a fragmentary sectional viewof the window frame alone, as seen on the plane IV-IV of Fig. I. Fig. Vis a view comparable with Fig. I, but showing the structure to smallerscale, with certain parts of the structure detached from assembly, topermit the sashes to be removed from the frame. And Fig. VI is afragmentary view of the window structure, showing the two sashes in edgeelevation, and showing the frame structure as it appears on the plane ofview indicated at VIVI in Fig, I.

Referring to the drawings; the window structure consists in arectangular plate-like frame I, including a rectangular opening 2,bordered by a casement-like portion 3 that is integrally formed with theplate-like portion l. The frame also includes a flange 30 that is spacedfrom the face of the plate-like body I, and extends peripherally of saidopening 2. (See Figs. II and V.) The entire frame is in this caseintegrally formed of metal, preferably a metal of light weight, such asaluminum. Two sliding window sashes 4 and '5 are mounted in the frame ontwo slidebars 6 and 'Lassembled in the frame, one at each of theopposite vertical sides of the sash-receiving opening 2. Beforeproceeding with a minute description of the structure, I shall mentionsome of the general considerations which have been held in mind.

As already remarked, the window structure is particularly, though notexclusively, designed for service as a storm window. Accordingly, it isdesirable that the structure may be readily installed in the usualwindow frame or casing (not shown) of a home or other building,externally of the windows or sashes mounted in such casing. It will beunderstood that my window structure may be installed temporarily in suchcasing, say for the duration of a winter; alternately, the window may bepermanently installed in the casing, and only the sashes 4 and 5 (oronly one of the sashes (removed during the warm seasons, so that one ormore panels or'sashes of fly screen may be assembled in the permanentinstallation. The plate-like frame I is formed in proper size to fit theparticular window casing, and such frame is provided with marginalperforations IO (Fig. I), for the reception of screw nails or otherdevices for securing the frame within or upon such casing in spacedrelation with respect to the window sashes permanently installedtherein. In Figs. I and V the window structure is shown from the inside,that is, from the side that faces the panes of the permanent windowstructure. The plate-like body of the frame includes adjacent to itslower edge one or more sets of weepholes H, by means of which condensatemay escape from the space between the storm windown and the permanentwindow sashes. The weep-holes are also serviceable, in that they admitof a slight circulation of air between the windows, and thus prevent theglass panes from sweating. In usual way pivoted flaps I2 are arranged tocover the weep-holes when desired. Turning to a more detailedconsideration of the structure, it will be noted that, in accordancewith the invention, the slide-bars or rails 6 and I, on which the sashes4 and 5 are mounted, are severally formed in a plurality of sections orportions. In this case such rails include two portions 6 and 6a, and Iand la, respectively; the portions 9 and 1 may be integrally formed inthe body of the frame, or they may with advantage be separately formed,as shown herein, and in tegrated to the frame; and the rail portions 6aand 1a are detachably secured to the frame, with the effect that, withboth sashes slid to the top of the frame (Fig. V), such rail portions 6aand la may be removed, whereupon the sashes may be slid downward,disengaged from the rail portions 6 and 'l permanently secured in theframe, and lifted out. 'In this way the window sashes 4 and 5, includingthe glass panes G may be removed from the frame, and substitute sashesor panels of fly screen introduced in their place.

The construction of the window sashes 4 and 5, and of the screen panels(not shown) that are interchangeable with them, is not of immediateconcern, and I refer to the description in my copending application forpatent, Serial No. 320,886, filed February 26, 1940, of a sash structurethat may be used in the window of my present invention. Sufiice hereinto say that the sashes comprise rectangular frames of metal in which theglass panes G are marginally secured and sealed; that both sash framesare grooved,

as at l3, in each of their vertical side edges; that such grooves arecontinuous throughout the extents of such side edges, and are adapted,as presently will more fully appear, to cooperate with the rails 6, 6aand I, la; that the upper edge of the sash 4 is grooved, as at l4 (Fig.II), to receive in weather-tight engagement 9. flange l5 provided in theframe I, 3, at the top of the opening 2; that the lower edge of sash 5is similarly grooved, as at l8 (Fig. III), to receive a flange l6 (Fig.V) at the bottom of the opening 2; that the two sashes 4 and 5, asassembled in the frame structure, extend in closely spaced, parallelplanes, and that in such planes they are severally movable through thevertical extent of the frame opening 2; and that the upper sash 4carries at its lower edge a flexible sealing strip l1 (Figs. III and VI)of felt, or the like, and that such 'strip bridges the interval betweenthe two panes and provides a weather-tight union of the medial,horizontal edges of the sashes when the sashes are adjusted in closedposition in the frame, as shown in Figs. I and VI.

Returning to a detailed consideration of the rails 6, 6a and I, la, itmay be noted that they consist in integrally rolled or extruded.sections of metal, cut to proper length to fit the sides of the opening2 in the frame, and then cut medially of their extent, to provide theseparate rail portions 6 and 611 on 'one side of the sash-receivingopening 2, and portions 1 and Ta on the opposite side of such opening.The line or plane of cleavage between the portions 1 and la is indicatedat 70 in Fig. VI, and it will be noted that such line orplane isarranged at an interval above the horizontal meeting edges of the twosashes in closed position, and is inclined between the front and therear faces of the window structure. Referring particularly to Figs. IIIand IV, it may be understood that the body of each. rail carries twothin flanges a and b that extend in parallelism longitudinally of therail, and that are respectively centered in the planes of the twosashes, and that are slidably engaged by the grooved side edges !3) ofthe sashes. Thus, a rail element a is provided along each vertical sideof the opening 2 for the sash 4, and a rail element b along each of suchsides for the sash 5. The sashes are adapted to slide vertically ontheir rail elements, throughout the vertical extent of the opening 2.

The rail sections include flange portions 0 that meet in face-to-faceabutment the flange 3B which borders the opening 2 in the frame I, 3,and in the case of the two upper rail portions (6 and 7) rivets 9 unitethe flanges c and 30, and thus integrate such rail portions with thewindow frame. The rigidity and security of assembly'is augmented by theprovision in the casement-like portion 3 of the frame of a peripherallyextencling clincher groove 3|, in which groove the edges of the railportions opposite to the flanged edges 0 are securely engaged. Thegroove 3| extends in parallelism with the flange 30 that borders thesash-receiving opening in the window frame. In

the case of the lower rail portions 6a and la, detachable means areprovided for securing such slide-bar portions in assembly. Such meansconsist in locking elements l9, two for each of such removable railsections. The locking elements I 9 are in the form of thumb-catches, inthis case slotted slides, each secured upon the flange c of theparticular rail section, as by means of a headed pin 20, and adapted tobe operated by the human finger or thumb. Within the limits of the slot2| (Fig. I) formed in the body of each locking element, the lockingelement is longitudinally slidable on the flange 0 of the rail section.The body of each locking element carries two rigid fingers 22 and 23(Fig. IV) that embrace the two edges of the flange c, and finger 23 isfurther characterized, in that it includes an inturned tip that isadapted to embrace the edge of flange 30 on the window frame I, 3. Whenthe rail sections 6a,, la are assembled with the window frame, theengagement of the fingers 23 with the flange 30, together with theengagement of the bodies of the rail sections in the clincher groove 3|,provides security of assembly. As shown in Figs. IV and V, theperipheral flange 30 includes, on opposite sides of the opening 2 in theframe, marginal slots or recesses 30a, and these recesses are so locatedthat, by shifting the locking elements I!) upward against gravity, thefingers 23 may be brought to positions of registry with such recesses,with the consequence and effect that the rail sections or portions 6aand 1a may be removed from assembly with the window structure (asindicated in full lines in Figs. II and V and in dotted lines in Fig.IV), it being understood, of course, that the sashes 4 and 5 are firstslid to the top of the window opening 2. When the lower rail portions 6aand la have thus been removed, the sashes may be slid downward, one at atime, and disengaged from the upper rail portions 6 and I that remainintegral with the frame. As the lower edge of each downwardly moved sashapproaches the bottom of the opening 2, the sash is angled in itsposition-the bottom edge of the sash being drawn outward and thenremoved from the frame. Thus, the window sashes 4 and 5 may be readilyremoved from the permanently installed window frame.

Screen sashes of the sort described in my said copending application maybe introduced and secured in the window frame, simply by reversing theorder of the manipulations, described above.

I claim as my invention:

In a rectangular window frame carrying on its opposite and parallelsides vertical rails, window sashes mounted on said rails for slidingmovement in the frame, and a section of one of said rails beingremovable from the frame to admit of the removal of said sashes; theinvention herein described that comprises flanges on the frame and theremovable rail section that in the assembly meet in face-to-faceabutment, one of the two said members being equipped with a verticallymovable slide adapted to embrace the edges of the assembled flanges, theflange of the other member being notched, the slide being movable uponthe member that carries it from looking position, in which it embracesthe flanges. to releasing position in which it registers with the saidnotch in the flange of the other member.

MORGAN B. SCHILLER.

